April 12, 2022

ASF confirmed in Port Dickson, Malaysia

The Negri Sembilan Veterinary Services Department (JPVNS) in Malaysia confirmed on April 9 that the African swine fever (ASF) was detected at a farm in Kampung Baru Tanah Merah Site A, Port Dickson.

State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Datuk Bakri Sawir said the disease was detected after samples were taken from two of the 275 pigs at the unlicenced farm.

He said JPVNS took proactive steps to seal off the area and getting police and JPVNS personnel to beef up monitoring around five-kilometre radius of the area to ensure there was no movement of livestock in and out of the area.

"We received information about the disease… JPVNS took samples on the two animals and they were found to have severe fever after the results came in," Sawir added.

"We could not get the cooperation of the farm owner as to how the animals were infected but according to unconfirmed reports, the origin of the infection was probably when the animals were brought in from Perak, but investigations are still underway."

According to Sawir, all the livestock would be disposed of in accordance with the prescribed procedures and legal action would be taken against the livestock breeder involved.

He said notices were issued to the owners of about 20 farms to stop their operations as they were not licensed.

- Bernama